Preventing Costly Car Repairs: Proactive Maintenance To Prolong Vehicle Life Span

No matter what type of vehicle you drive in El Paso, TX, you probably want to get as much use out of it as possible. But auto parts eventually wear out; the same is true for vehicles in general. You can save money by taking a few steps to extend your car’s longevity.

Proactive and preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid potential issues with your vehicle — this approach to car service focuses on preventing problems before they happen. Stopping these complications as soon as possible will reduce car repair costs and maximize your vehicle’s life span. Read on for the information you need about preventative maintenance services.

Keep Up With These Car Maintenance Services

Would you like to significantly lower your odds of needing car repair work in the foreseeable future while increasing your vehicle’s life span? If so, visit an auto mechanic in El Paso to take care of preventative maintenance services, including the following:

Oil Changes

It’s hard to overstate the importance of motor oil to your vehicle. This fluid keeps engine heat under control and lubricates your engine’s moving parts, just to name a few of its duties. However, oil doesn’t last forever — once it gets too dirty, it significantly declines in terms of functionality.

At that point, you’ll need to set up an oil change to keep your car running smoothly. To get the best possible bang for your buck, look for an El Paso auto repair shop that offers full-service oil changes. These oil changes come with additional tasks, such as:

• Oil filter replacement
• Chassis lubrication
• Tire rotation (if requested)
• A multi-point vehicle inspection

Brake Service

If you haven’t paid much attention to your vehicle's brakes lately, there’s a good reason for that — in all likelihood, they’re working as intended. But if you run into brake trouble, it won’t be long before you start thinking about this system.

Checking your brakes every so often is a great way to ensure that your car’s brake system keeps working as it should. This process won’t just allow mechanics to fix current issues with your brakes — they’ll also be able to stop developing problems in their tracks. Getting brake inspections once every 6,000 miles or six months is wise for most drivers.

Tire Service

It’s a fact of life — eventually, even the best car tires will get worn down by friction. Fortunately, you can keep your tires in great shape for quite a while with the help of proactive maintenance. Maintenance services your tires will need include:

• Tire rotation: Your tires wear differently based on their position on your vehicle. With that in mind, regular tire rotation will keep your tread wear even.
• Wheel alignment: If your tires aren’t positioned at the correct angle, it could cause problems related to gas mileage and tire wear. To resolve this problem, mechanics can adjust your vehicle’s suspension.
• Tire balancing: When your tires aren’t identical in terms of weight, you’ll find it all but impossible to drive safely (and you’ll suffer from uneven tread wear). Tire balancing, which involves installing small weights on your lightest tires, can make this a non-issue.

Other Tasks

The jobs described above should go a long way toward reducing your risk of requiring car repair work. That said, your vehicle can also benefit from proactive maintenance services such as:

• Transmission Fluid Flush
• Power steering fluid flush
• Nut and bolt tightening
• Air filter replacement
• Windfield washer fluid refills
• Light checks

When Do You Need Auto Maintenance?

The standard oil change schedule calls for motorists to set up oil changes every 5,000-7,000 miles. While this is a decent starting point, your actual oil change needs might vary. If you tend to take short trips, drive in hot weather, or tow heavy loads, you’ll be better off getting oil changes once every 3,000-5,000 miles.

When it comes to other proactive maintenance services, you’ll want to follow the advice included in your car’s user manual. In many cases, manufacturers encourage drivers to get specific parts inspected and replaced once their vehicle reaches the 30,000-mile, 60,000-mile, and 90,000-mile marks.

Of course, this advice is based on the assumption that nothing will go wrong with your vehicle ahead of schedule. Set up an appointment at your local auto repair shop immediately if you notice unusual:

• Feelings (like a spongy brake pedal or vibrations in your steering wheel)
• Sights (like an active check engine light or fluid leaks)
• Sounds (like shrieking when you brake or a low rumbling noise)
• Smells (like a burnt toast smell or bitter odors)

Get Reliable Maintenance in El Paso

For any type of proactive maintenance or car repair service, you’ll need an El Paso auto repair shop you can trust — and no one fits the bill like Martin Tire Company. We offer a broad range of repair and maintenance services, all of which are handled by incredibly qualified auto mechanics. Better yet, you can save big by checking out our online coupons. 

Don’t wait any longer — schedule a maintenance appointment today!